Page 71 of Stronger Than Fate

I walked over there feeling his gaze fixed on me. When I picked up my things, I turned and looked at him.

“There’s nothing more painful than saying goodbye when you’re in love,”I thought.

“Take care,” I said, without approaching him, and silently wished for his happiness.

Henry just nodded and continued looking at me with what seemed to me like enormous sadness and distress, but without saying anything.

I turned and left his apartment as quickly as my legs would allow. As I was closing the door, I thought I heard him calling me, but I closed it without making sure if he had.

Chapter 11

“Every angel needs a demon to invite them for coffee”

—Anonymous

Two weeks after our goodbye, I found myself in a depressing emotional state. I put on a brave face trying to look okay, but inside the pain was enormous. It seemed like I was living on autopilot. I immersed myself in hotel matters, stuck to my routine, and let the days pass by, but the nights were endless. At night, my hopes completely crumbled. I was certain my dark circles were getting bigger by the day.

Niky called me almost daily and invited me out many times, but the fear of running into him and seeing him with other women made me avoid any nighttime outings. My brothers were quite attentive because they knew about the breakup and knew me well enough to realize I wasn’t at my best, but they respected my silences and my moments of solitude.

I had no news from Sol. I had gone by her house twice more, and both times the doorman informed me she was still traveling. I had so many doubts and suspicions that one Saturday I had parked my car on the corner of her street and spent hours watching her building to see if she came out, but there was no sign of her.

That Friday I was working when I received a phone call from Niky. I knew she would keep insisting that I go out with her, so I decided it was time to accept her invitation and go have some fun. Henry had caused chaos in my heart and I felt defenseless against it, but it was time to take control of my feelings andemotions. I needed to focus on emotional recovery. You learn from every experience, and they’re part of the path to growth. I had learned my lesson and would take better care of my feelings.

“Hi, Niky,” I greeted her cheerfully.

“Dali, I need your help, please!” she begged, sounding more distressed than I’d ever heard her.

“What’s happening?”

“You have to help me finish a dress. You’re the only one who can help me.”

“Whaaaat? Are you crazy? I don’t even know how to thread a needle,” I stated, completely surprised by her request.

“I’m not asking you to sew,” she said, laughing. “I need you to come be a model. You’re the only one the dress might fit.”

“Can you explain exactly what you need? I warn you, I don’t know how to sew or model.”

“Let me explain. I don’t make custom dresses, but the owner of this dress is a special client and I agreed to make it for her. The problem is she needs it in a week and the little bitch went off to New York. How am I supposed to finish it if I can’t fit it on her?!”

“And what can I do? I still don’t understand.”

“You need to come and try it on so I can adjust it. You have her height and body type. Several people here have tried it on, but it doesn’t look good on anyone. You have the perfect body for this dress.”

“I just have to try it on?” I asked, confused.

“And stay still for a while as I make adjustments.”

“If that’s all I can do to help, count me in.”

“Thaaaaaank youuuuu. You need to come to my atelier. Can you be here in an hour?” she asked enthusiastically.

“I’ll be there in an hour.”

“I love you with all my heart, genius!”

“Stop flattering me, you already got what you wanted,” I said, smiling, and I heard my friend laugh.

In the end, I wasn’t going out with my friend, but I was going to help her with one of her projects, and surely afterward we’d order something to eat and stay chatting. It was a good plan.